Conferences

Fr. Elias gives the third talk at the Fall 2014 Marian Day of Reflection held on Saturday, December 6, 2014. The overall theme for the day is the Immaculate Conception and its meaning. In this third talk Father focuses on our response to God once we know the doctrine. He first emphasizes again the importance of the Immaculate Conception and how this relates to Mary’s role as our Advocate.

Fr. Elias gives the second talk at the Fall 2014 Marian Day of Reflection held on Saturday, December 6, 2014. The overall theme for the day is the Immaculate Conception and its meaning. In this second talk Father focuses on our response to God once we know the doctrine. He first emphasizes again the importance of the Immaculate Conception and how this relates to Mary’s role as Mediatrix of all Graces and that this means we should respond with faith and to praise God and honor His mother.

Fr. Elias gives the first talk on this Marian Day of Reflection on Saturday December 6, 2014. The overall theme for the day is the Immaculate Conception and what it means. In this first talk Father focuses on what the Immaculate Conception means for us, the graces that we receive from it. Specifically he connects this to the fifth Marian Dogma of Coredemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate for us, all of which is summed up in her role as spiritual mother for all Christians, which, in turn, is based on her Divine Motherhood.

Fr. Elias on the Feast of St. Francis and on our fall semi-Annual Marian Day gives the conference in the afternoon to a crowd of over one hundred people at our Sacred Heart Chapel at the Mother of the Retreat Center. He reflects on the Marian Charism of St Francis and how St. Maximilian, the early Twentieth Century Franciscan, exemplified the Marian-Franciscan spirituality and thus imitated St. Francis in his conformity with Jesus.

For the 2014 Courage Conference in Philadelphia at Villanova University, Fr. Don Timone, gives the closing talk called “Coming Down from the Mountain”, relating the immanent departure of the attendees of this event to the fact that the apostles had to come down from Mt. Tabor after Jesus’ glorious transfiguration. He underscores the need to be able and willing to help each other out on an ongoing basis in times of good and bad.

For the 2014 Courage Conference in Philadelphia at Villanova University, Andrew Comiskey gives his talk called “Judge Not? Clarifying a New Testament Understanding of Judgement” and how this relates to the moral issues of today, especially homosexuality.

The 2014 Courage Conference in Philadelphia at Villanova University, had the premiere viewing of Courage’s new documentary, “Desire of the Everlasting Hills”, followed by panel discussion with the stars of the movie Paul, Rilene, and Dan. Watch this incredible story of three people who came to the Catholic faith embracing all its teachings and disciplines, giving a strong witness of strength in the midst of our permissive culture. For more on this movie go to everlastinghills.org.

For the 2014 Courage Conference in Philadelphia at Villanova University, Fr. Philip Bochanski, C.O., calls his talk “Namugongo Jubilee: Lessons from Our Patron Saints” and relates the history of the martyrdom of the St. Charles Lwanga and companions and why they were chosen as patron saints of the Courage apostolate.

For the 2014 Courage Conference in Philadelphia at Villanova University, Fr. Joseph Koterski, S.J., talks on “The Christian Meaning of Human Sexuality” where he gives a comprehensive view of human sexuality, its purpose and how it fits in with morality and the human person.

For the 2014 Courage Conference in Philadelphia at Villanova University Dr. Helen Alvare answers the question, “What If We Took Pope Francis at His Word? She focuses on an overall understanding of the moral sea that we swim in, especially the legal aspects that tie into cultural and psychological considerations and then how to address the situation based on the words of Francis.

For the 2014 Courage Conference in Philadelphia at Villanova University, Immaculee Ilibagiza, “Immaculee’s Story of Faith, Hope, and Forgiveness” relates her amazing story of great suffering inflicted on her and her family and entire people during the Rwandan Genocide and her road to forgive the perpetrators of these horrors and the central role of her faith and the Rosary played in this. Please listen to her incredible story.

For the 2014 Courage Conference in Philadelphia at Villanova University Fr. Paul Check, Exec. Dir. of Courage gives the opening keynote address titled, “For When I am Weak, Then I am Strong”. First a video is played which is the trailer for Courage’s new series of videos. Then Fr. Paul describes the many new initiatives that Courage is undertaking and finally give his talk on how we are strong even when we feel weak, based on the encouraging words of Our Lord in the Bible.

For the 2014 Courage Conference in Philadelphia, Fr. Paul Check, Exec. Dir. of Courage International, gives the second homily where he exhorts us to let Our Lord set our hearts afire with the same Divine Love that burns in His Sacred Heart so that we can then pass on this flame to others.

For the 2014 Courage Conference in Philadelphia, Abp. Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia, gives the opening homily where he reflects on original sin and how much easier it would be if the fall did not happen, but points out how the current burden of fighting sin in our lives is actually quite bearable and even enables us to fly to the Heart of God. To learn more about Courage go to Couragerc.org

For the 2014 Courage Conference in Philadelphia Bp. Daniel E Thomas, Auxiliary to the Archbishop of Philadelphia, gives the third homily where he uses the Italian version of the word Courage, “Coraggio” with all its rich meanings and relates it to courage of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Heart so that we can take courage in these difficult times. To learn more about Courage go to Couragerc.org